A MAN who continues to break into houses to finance his drug habit has failed in his responsibility as a father and role model to his three children and pregnant partner, according to relieving Magistrate Michael Allen.
James Dennis, 30, who was on parole for break and enter offences when he reoffended at the weekend by breaking into two houses, was sentenced to two years jail on both charges by Mr Allen in Orange Local Court yesterday.
“Unless you make some changes to your life you will be a broken down old man at the age of 35 who is still behind bars,” he told the accused.
Mr Allen told Dennis his offences ran much deeper than the physical act of breaking into someone’s home.
“These were the homes of battlers,” he said.
“People who have worked very hard to get the money to go and and buy themselves a TV and your record here before me is absolutely atrocious,” he said.
During the court case yesterday, Dennis who was remanded in custody after being arrested over the break and enters which occurred on Sunday, sat motionless in the dock dressed in a blue hoodie as his pregnant partner sat in the back of the courtroom.
In his defence Dennis’ legal aid solicitor Rodney Hunt told the court it was Orange and its network of drug users that was a bad influence on his client.
He’s been into rehabilitation twice to try and break his cycle of dependence on drugs.
Mr Allen replied it was a sad situation that Dennis had effectively had no input into his children’s live’s and his partner was expecting another child.
“There will be no male in the household for these children.
“If you continue to commit further offences you will find yourself in jail for up to 20 years,” he told Dennis.
As he was already on conditional liberty on parole for similar offences, Mr Allen sentenced Dennis on the spot to two years jail for each break and enter offence.
There will be an 18-month non-parole period for each offence, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Dennis will be eligible for parole on April 21, 2014.